Composite Panel with Reinforced Recesses

Abstract

A composite panel has one or more recesses, or smoothly-contoured recesses formed in one or both opposing sides of a core. Reinforcement conforming to each recess is coupled to the core at the recess. First and second facing sheets are respectively coupled to the first and second opposing sides of the core.

1 . A composite panel, comprising:
 a core having first and second opposing sides with at least one recess formed in said core on at least one of said first and second opposing sides;   reinforcing means conforming to each of said at least one recess and coupled to said core thereat, wherein reduced-sized recesses are defined by said reinforcing means; and   first and second facing sheets respectively coupled to said first and second opposing sides of said core.   
   
   
       2 . A composite panel as in  claim 1  further comprising at least one of acoustic damping material and vibration damping material disposed in at least one of said reduced-size recesses. 
   
   
       3 . A composite panel as in  claim 1  further comprising at least one of acoustic damping material and vibration damping material filling at least one of said reduced-size recesses. 
   
   
       4 . A composite panel as in  claim 1  wherein said core is a honeycomb core. 
   
   
       5 . A composite panel as in  claim 1  wherein said reinforcing means is integrated with at least one of said first facing sheet and said second facing sheet. 
   
   
       6 . A composite panel as in  claim 1  wherein said first and second facing sheets are one of the same material or different materials. 
   
   
       7 . A composite panel as in  claim 1  wherein said at least one recess comprises smoothly contoured recesses. 
   
   
       8 . A composite panel as in  claim 1  wherein transverse wave speed of each of said first and second facing sheets is subsonic. 
   
   
       9 . A composite panel as in  claim 1  wherein said at least one recess is formed on said first and second opposing sides of said core in a mirror image fashion. 
   
   
       10 . A composite panel as in  claim 1  wherein said at least one recess is formed on said first and second opposing sides of said core in a non-mirror image fashion. 
   
   
       11 . A composite panel as in  claim 1  wherein each of said at least one recess is identically sized and shaped. 
   
   
       12 . A composite panel, comprising:
 a core having first and second opposing sides with at least one recess formed in said core on at least one of said first and second opposing sides;   a sheet of reinforcing material conforming to each of said at least one recess and bonded on a first face thereof to said core and having a second face thereof defining a depression corresponding in shape to a corresponding one of said at least one recess; and   first and second facing sheets respectively coupled to said first and second opposing sides of said core.   
   
   
       13 . A composite panel as in  claim 12  further comprising at least one of acoustic damping material and vibration damping material disposed in at least one of said depressions. 
   
   
       14 . A composite panel as in  claim 12  further comprising at least one of acoustic damping material and vibration damping material filling each said depressions. 
   
   
       15 . A composite panel as in  claim 12  wherein said core is a honeycomb core. 
   
   
       16 . A composite panel as in  claim 12  wherein each said sheet of reinforcing material is integrated with one of said first facing sheet and said second facing sheet. 
   
   
       17 . A composite panel as in  claim 12  wherein said first and second sheets are one of the same material or different materials. 
   
   
       18 . A composite panel as in  claim 12  wherein said at least one recess comprises smoothly contoured recesses. 
   
   
       19 . A composite panel as in  claim 12  wherein transverse wave speed of each of said first and second facing sheets is subsonic. 
   
   
       20 . A composite panel as in  claim 12  wherein said at least one recess is formed on said first and second opposing sides of said core in a mirror image fashion. 
   
   
       21 . A composite panel as in  claim 12  wherein said at least one recess is formed on said first and second opposing sides of said core in a non-mirror image fashion. 
   
   
       22 . A composite panel as in  claim 12  wherein each of said at least one recess is identically sized and shaped. 
   
   
       23 . A composite panel, comprising:
 a honeycomb core having first and second opposing sides with at least one recess formed in said core on at least one of said first and second opposing sides;   reinforcing means conforming to each of said at least one recess and coupled to said core thereat, wherein reduced-sized recesses are defined by said reinforcing means;   first and second facing sheets respectively coupled to said first and second opposing sides of said core; and   at least one of acoustic damping material and vibration damping material disposed in at least one of said reduced-size recesses.   
   
   
       24 . A composite panel as in  claim 23  wherein said reinforcing means is integrated with at least one of said first facing sheet and said second facing sheet. 
   
   
       25 . A composite panel as in  claim 23  wherein said at least one recess is formed on said first and second opposing sides of said core in a non-mirror image fashion.